Trip.... 9/8 - 9/9 Universal IAO and USF
9/10- 9/15 Disney
Here is my report from just the Disney portion of the trip....
Caribbean Beach Resort- Large resort, Nice layout and lots of pools. Rooms look new (just renovated) and very clean. Stayed in Barbados, Building 14. Originally had room facing parking lot, changed to room in back looking "towards" garden/pool. About a 5 minute walk to "General area".
MGM- WOW.. What a change. I had gone there a few times 5 or 6 years ago. I liked it then but now I feel that its the best park in terms of fun. RnR and ToT are stupendious rides. That initial "take-off" in RnR is simply awesome... When i first got into the ride area I watched the first "limo" take off and it almost looks fake... Like a movie in Fast Forward... the addition of the music is simply amazing. Bring a fan of Heavy Rock/Metal, i was truly in my glory. Last time i was there, i passed on ToT, I got to ride it 3 times duiring this trip. on 9/14, during the tropical storm, we rode RnR and Tot 2x each back to back in less then an hour WITHOUT fastpass (including one time when we had the "limo" all to ourselves). MGM has definitely better than USF. This trip also represented my first trip to USF and I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!!! Not sure how people can say it was better then MGM.
OH.. One more thing, Fantasmic IS SIMPLY AWESOME.. MUST SEE!!!!
Epcot- Early Entry Day. Went to Test Track first. Got a fastpass then went to standby line. Got on in 5 or 10 mins (broke down) then we went to breakfast. Went back to Test Track with Fastpass, broke down again was waiting for about 5 mins inside then it started again. When we got back inside they offered us to ride again. We agreed. Rode it 3x in an hour or so. Cant complain, although only the 3rd try was completly successful. Cant help but joke to myself that all the trouble GM has with their cars (mechanically speaking) just shows in this ride.... Went on Spaceship earth (at this point it was about 10:00am) then went to Shrunk the Audience. Went to go to another ride and we were informed "Due to the state of the Nation, Disney is closing all parks" Later we heard from a cast member that a plane hit the WTC and D.C. Not sure what to make of it, we left (along with the rest of the guests). Put on radio in car and we were all horrified to hear that both Towers were down and thousands were trapped. We are from NY and my sister works in Manhattan, very glad that she was with me on this trip. Couldnt get thru to NY to check on family and friends. Later after persistant trying, everybody was OK thank God. We went back to CBR and watched TV for a while. Then decided to go down to the pool bar and have some drinks... and drinks.. and drinks... TV's were on at the Bar and thats what most adults were watching. Kids playing in the pool. Went to hotel after the sky looked like it was going to pour and drank some more. Then at night we went back to the Pool Bar and saw some Cast Members in costume which surprised me. Im glad to see that Disney was still trying to entertain its guests.
AK- First time at the park. Somber day. Still in shock, angry, sad, etc... Did not have a great time. Knew i needed a "jump start" so we went over to KRR and it helped. Probably prodded my first smile of the day. We did go on the Safari first, and i enjoyed it, but didnt "help" my mood. Did the Tough to Be a Bug show. Amazing show.. lots of fun. Im not an "insect person" and some parts freaked me out a tad, but it was worth it. Then went to Festival of the Lion King show. Somehow i was picked to do the Elephant sound (I cant do animal sounds at all.. never mind an ELEPHANT!!!!) and just made a total fool of myself.. It was quite hysterical to say the least. Turns out that the Cast Member who "chose me" (the lead MC guy) was from Manhattan and we spoke about it briefly while other were doing their animal calls. Show was very good, lots of good music and acrobatics.
MK- Park is losing its flair to me. Showing its age. Went on Space Mountain first (another early opening day) got on in about 3 minutes. Only Right side open, VERY VERY quiet when we "launched" I spoke to my girlfriend in front of me (same rocket obviously) like we were in the rental car. Couldnt believe it... I guess the ride loses something without hearing screams.... Walked down to Small World, got right on. Went To BTMRR, again, had our choice of seats, chose the back. Next Alien Encounter, waited about 10 mins. Left park without doing anything else. It was overcast and drizzling, no need to do splash mountain in that.
Went back to Epcot around 11:30 to go to World Showcase. Had decent time having a drink in every nation. "African Beer" was a bit hard to swallow, but we drank most of it.
TROPICAL STORM HITS... Most parks VERY VERY LIGHT....
Saturday was supposed to be out Flight out to NY. Instead we rented a car and did the 20 hour trek instead (in light of the Attack and Storm and Tornado warnings). We all had a great time but it did end a Week filled with many emotions. But we were all safe, and so was out friends and family... and thats what mattered most.
Regards
Mike
9/10- 9/15 Disney
Here is my report from just the Disney portion of the trip....
Caribbean Beach Resort- Large resort, Nice layout and lots of pools. Rooms look new (just renovated) and very clean. Stayed in Barbados, Building 14. Originally had room facing parking lot, changed to room in back looking "towards" garden/pool. About a 5 minute walk to "General area".
MGM- WOW.. What a change. I had gone there a few times 5 or 6 years ago. I liked it then but now I feel that its the best park in terms of fun. RnR and ToT are stupendious rides. That initial "take-off" in RnR is simply awesome... When i first got into the ride area I watched the first "limo" take off and it almost looks fake... Like a movie in Fast Forward... the addition of the music is simply amazing. Bring a fan of Heavy Rock/Metal, i was truly in my glory. Last time i was there, i passed on ToT, I got to ride it 3 times duiring this trip. on 9/14, during the tropical storm, we rode RnR and Tot 2x each back to back in less then an hour WITHOUT fastpass (including one time when we had the "limo" all to ourselves). MGM has definitely better than USF. This trip also represented my first trip to USF and I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!!! Not sure how people can say it was better then MGM.
OH.. One more thing, Fantasmic IS SIMPLY AWESOME.. MUST SEE!!!!
Epcot- Early Entry Day. Went to Test Track first. Got a fastpass then went to standby line. Got on in 5 or 10 mins (broke down) then we went to breakfast. Went back to Test Track with Fastpass, broke down again was waiting for about 5 mins inside then it started again. When we got back inside they offered us to ride again. We agreed. Rode it 3x in an hour or so. Cant complain, although only the 3rd try was completly successful. Cant help but joke to myself that all the trouble GM has with their cars (mechanically speaking) just shows in this ride.... Went on Spaceship earth (at this point it was about 10:00am) then went to Shrunk the Audience. Went to go to another ride and we were informed "Due to the state of the Nation, Disney is closing all parks" Later we heard from a cast member that a plane hit the WTC and D.C. Not sure what to make of it, we left (along with the rest of the guests). Put on radio in car and we were all horrified to hear that both Towers were down and thousands were trapped. We are from NY and my sister works in Manhattan, very glad that she was with me on this trip. Couldnt get thru to NY to check on family and friends. Later after persistant trying, everybody was OK thank God. We went back to CBR and watched TV for a while. Then decided to go down to the pool bar and have some drinks... and drinks.. and drinks... TV's were on at the Bar and thats what most adults were watching. Kids playing in the pool. Went to hotel after the sky looked like it was going to pour and drank some more. Then at night we went back to the Pool Bar and saw some Cast Members in costume which surprised me. Im glad to see that Disney was still trying to entertain its guests.
AK- First time at the park. Somber day. Still in shock, angry, sad, etc... Did not have a great time. Knew i needed a "jump start" so we went over to KRR and it helped. Probably prodded my first smile of the day. We did go on the Safari first, and i enjoyed it, but didnt "help" my mood. Did the Tough to Be a Bug show. Amazing show.. lots of fun. Im not an "insect person" and some parts freaked me out a tad, but it was worth it. Then went to Festival of the Lion King show. Somehow i was picked to do the Elephant sound (I cant do animal sounds at all.. never mind an ELEPHANT!!!!) and just made a total fool of myself.. It was quite hysterical to say the least. Turns out that the Cast Member who "chose me" (the lead MC guy) was from Manhattan and we spoke about it briefly while other were doing their animal calls. Show was very good, lots of good music and acrobatics.
MK- Park is losing its flair to me. Showing its age. Went on Space Mountain first (another early opening day) got on in about 3 minutes. Only Right side open, VERY VERY quiet when we "launched" I spoke to my girlfriend in front of me (same rocket obviously) like we were in the rental car. Couldnt believe it... I guess the ride loses something without hearing screams.... Walked down to Small World, got right on. Went To BTMRR, again, had our choice of seats, chose the back. Next Alien Encounter, waited about 10 mins. Left park without doing anything else. It was overcast and drizzling, no need to do splash mountain in that.
Went back to Epcot around 11:30 to go to World Showcase. Had decent time having a drink in every nation. "African Beer" was a bit hard to swallow, but we drank most of it.
TROPICAL STORM HITS... Most parks VERY VERY LIGHT....
Saturday was supposed to be out Flight out to NY. Instead we rented a car and did the 20 hour trek instead (in light of the Attack and Storm and Tornado warnings). We all had a great time but it did end a Week filled with many emotions. But we were all safe, and so was out friends and family... and thats what mattered most.
Regards
Mike
